The "al-Qaeda Documents: Vol. 1 is the first in a new series of books by Tempest Publishing and IntelCenter. This series is designed to pull together key documents necessary to develop a solid understanding of how al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations operate.

The documents enclosed in this first volume consist of excerpts from the al-Qaeda Training Manual, the transcript from one of the al-Qaeda videotapes and United States court documents involving al-Qaeda members and related parties.

The excerpts from the al-Qaeda Training Manual are of particular note. The manual provides insight into al-Qaeda’s targeting selection, intelligence gathering, operational security measures, communication techniques and other key areas. Perhaps most importantly, it illustrates the level of sophistication present in the planning and executing of al-Qaeda operations.